File for correspondence and the like



March 1, 1938.

W. F. SCHROEDER FILE FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND THE LIKE Filed July 7. 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I W. F. SCHROEDER FILE FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND THE LIKE March 1, 1938.

Fil ed July 7, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT oFEicE William F. Schroeder, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Victor Products Corp, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 7', 1936, Serial No. 89,364

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a file of the class that is more commonly employed in general business practice for desk use and which is particularly adapted for sorting and distributing correspondence, documents, pamphlets, or, more broadly,

for papers of all sorts and description. Obviously, its use need not be confined to desk purposes inasmuch as the file can be adapted for use in a desk drawer or in filing cases, etc.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a file having a plurality of spaced panels forming dividers which define adjacent compartments for the reception of papers,

said panels being so constructed as to definitely separate and space the sorted groups of papers disposed in adjacent compartments for reference or for distribution as the case may be.

Another object of this invention is to provide the several panels of the file with means adapted to readily guide the papers and the like into their respective compartments as they are being filed.

A further object is to provide a file that has an open bottom, thereby eliminating the accumulation of dust and other foreign matter within the file, this being regarded as objectionable in filing devices now on the market.

In addition, the file incorporates spacing means for the several panels, whereby the distances between the panels can be varied to suit all needs. Addition of other panels to increase the capacity of the file is also conveniently accomplished with the aforesaid spacing means, the latter further acting as means for rigidly tying and connecting together the several sections or panels of the file as a unit and acting as a rest or support for the filed papers.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be described in the following detailed description of the present invention, reference being had to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof as well as several modifications.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of file;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof; Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the file; Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view 50 of the file, partly in section, illustrating thespacing and fastening means employed for joining the several panels;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a face view of a modified form of one of the panels of the file;

Figure 7 is an enlarged edge view of the panel illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of file wherein the panels are arranged in cascade sequence; and

Figure 9 is 'a face view of one of the panels employed in Figure 8 to obtain the cascade arrangement shown.

In Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of panels l0 rigidly connected by the spacing means II. The panels can be made of such proportions as to accommodate various sizes of papers as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each panel is provided with a rolled or beaded top I2 and a rolled or turned up bottom I3, both of which act to stiffen the panels laterally.

The beaded tops I2 have a two-fold function.

ments I4 will tend to spread out below the beads I2 of the panels II] or at least the Width'of each compartment is greater than the width of the entrance thereto as determined by the beads on adjacent panels. The theory is that the beads on adjacent panels act to neck in the papers at the point of entry into a compartment thereby causing the portions'of the papers which project out of the compartment to converge toward each other. The direct result is that papers in adjacent compartments disposed next to the panel separating them are caused to diverge where they extend above the top of the panel by means of the bead on said panel thus providing a means for keeping the papers in adjacent compartments definitely separated and out of contact with each other.

Secondly, the beads provide guiding means for papers being filed into their respective compartments as best illustrated in Figure 4. In the latter, the filed papers, etc., are indicated by P and papers about to be filed by 13'. It is apparent from the illustration how the rounded tops or beads I2 serve as guides for the papers 12 as they are being placed into their respective compartments I4. ments I 4 are filled to capacity or only partially filled, and presents a feature that is a decided improvement over files now in existence wherein the panels are relatively thin and flat edged throughout.

The rolled or turned up bottom edges I3 of the panels have been pro-vided to eliminate the possibility of marring or scratching the top of a desk or any surface upon which the file may be placed.

The spacing means II comprises aseries of internally threaded sleeves I5, that can be made of different lengths to vary the capacity of the compartments I4, and a plurality of threaded studs IS. The studs Ifipass through openings This is true whether the compart' I] in panels I and each pair of sleeves, upon being drawn up tightly on one of the studs, firmly abuts the opposite sides of a panel and hold the latter in proper position. The spacing means for connecting the panels is disposed near the bottom limits of the panels to allow the upper beaded ends thereof to flex, as illustrated in Figure 3, to enhance the filing of papers or the withdrawal of one or more of the latter from the file. The front and rear end sections of panels of the file are held in place by any suitable means such as screws l8 which thread into the sleeves 15 as do studs I6.

When the file is completely assembled as a unit, the spacing members for connecting the several panels appear as continuous rods of which three have been indicated in Figures 1 and 2. By employing spacing members of this type the file compartments are all open at the bottom as well as at the sides and top, and the spacing members also provide lateral spaced points of support within each compartment for the papers that are placed into the compartments l4. Therefore, the spacing means ll serves the triple function of spacing the panels as required, of rigidly connecting the panels in parallel upright position and also of forming a rest or support for the papers that are filed.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7, a modified form of panel has been shown comprising a plate l9 comparable to the panels incorporated in the preferred embodiment with the exception that the top edge of the panel is flat, and one or more rounded members 2i] are suitably connected with the top edge of plate l9 to supplant the use of a bead l2.

In Figures 8 and 9 a file of modified construction appears wherein the panels 2! are arranged in cascade sequence leading up to a panel 22 forming a rear leg for the file. The panels are connected by means of sleeves l and screws 23. The panels 2| are provided with vertically spaced holes 24 through which screws 23 enter sleeves I5 and by ofisetting each plate or panel vertically relative to the one ahead, as can be done by means of the vertically disposed holes 24 and the spacing members i5 and screws 23, the cascade arrangement is readily obtainable.

It is obvious that the specific construction of file and the several modifications disclosed in the drawings shall only be construed by way of illustration, so that possible changes may be incorporated therein and that the present device is not to be limited except in so far as shall be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a file, a plurality of panels defining paper receiving compartments, means serving as a base to which the panels are rigidly connected in fixed spaced relation, said panels each comprising a flat member having an enlarged head and said spacing being such that said heads are normally out of contact, said head acting to diverge the upper projecting ends of both groups of papers disposed on opposite sides of said panel so as to facilitate access to either group.

2. In a file, a plurality of vertical panels defining compartments for the reception of papers, paper supporting means disposed at spaced intervals between said panels and rigidly connecting the latter in fixed spaced relation, and separating means on the upper edge of each panel and extending on opposite sides of the plane of the panel so as to hold the portions of the papers that extend upwardly and outwardly from adjacent compartments out of contact with each other.

3. In a file, a plurality of vertical panels defining paper receiving compartments, horizontal paper supporting means disposed at spaced intervals between said panels, said means each comprising members for abutting opposite sides of a panel, and means connecting said members so as to rigidly hold said panel in fixed spaced relation with respect to the other panels.

4. In a file, a plurality of vertical panels defining paper receiving compartments, each of said panels having apertures therein, paper supporting means disposed at spaced intervals between said panels and adapted for connecting the latter, said means each comprising horizontal members for cooperating with the opposite sides of a panel to position the latter, and means disposed within one aperture of said panel to connect the aforesaid members and clamp the panel therebetween.

5. In a file, a plurality of vertical panels, said panels each having apertures therein, means for connecting said panels comprising internally threaded sleeves, and threaded studs disposed within the apertures of the panels and projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the panels for the reception of said threaded sleeves, said studs providing means for holding the sleeves in abutting engagement with the panels so as to retain the latter in vertical position.

6. In a file, panels defining paper receiving compartments, said panels each comprising a fiat plate having a flanged top, certain of said panels having a flanged bottom, and means rigidly connecting said plates at spaced points intermediate the tops and bottoms in vertical selfsustaining relation, said means providing lateral spaced points of support in each compartment for the papers disposed therein and those panels having the fianged bottoms serving to support the whole fi1e..

7. In a file, a plurality of sheet metal panels defining paper receiving compartments and each having openings along the lower portion thereof, and means passing through said openings and engaging the side faces of adjacent panels for rigidly holding them in vertical self-sustaining spaced relation, one of said sheet metal panels having its lower edge formed to serve as a support for one end of said file, and another panel having its lower edge formed to serve as a support for theother end of said file.

8. In a file, a plurality of generally vertically disposed panels defining a series of paper receiving compartments, means for rigidly connecting said panels in fixed spaced relation and for supporting the lower ends of papers disposed within said compartments, and guide means on the upper portion of each of said panels, each guide means including sections disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the associated panel so as to separate with limited contact the upwardly extending papers in the compartment at one side of the panel from the upwardly extending papers in the compartment at the other side of the panel, the sections of each of said guide means being formed so as to guide a paper being inserted optionally into either of the compartments on opposite sides of the panel, thereby facilitating the insertion of a paper into either the front or back of the group of papers in any one compartment.

WILLIAM l SCHROEDER. 

